BREAST SURGEON DARWIN

BREAST SURGERY – PROCEDURES

Access the buttons below to find out more about Dr Sinnathamby’s surgical procedures:

ULTRASOUND GUIDED BIOPSY

What is a medical ultrasound

A medical ultrasound is a non-invasive medical device that helps physicians locate, diagnose and treat medical conditions.

An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body. It allows doctors to view inside a person’s body to help see abdominal and pelvic organs, muscles and tendons and heart and blood vessels.

It is used to help diagnose the causes of pain, swelling and infection in the body’s internal organs and can also help guide biopsies and a range of other uses within the medical profession.

A medical ultrasound is safe, painless, non-invasive, and does not use radiation.

Ultrasound guided biopsy – To help with diagnosis of a tissue such as a lump or sore, an ultrasound can assist by providing images to help identify the location of the cells for a biopsy. A fine needle is then used in the procedure to remove a tissue sample that is then examined.

The procedure is less invasive than surgical biopsy, leaves little to no scarring and does not involve exposure to ionizing radiation.

BREAST SURGEON DARWIN

Dr Sinnathamby – MBBS, MS, FRACS.
General & Breast Surgeon.

“If you have any questions about any of these procedures, please contact my rooms.

I pride myself on ensuring my patients and their loved ones fully understand your diagnosis and treatment options.”

BREAST CANCER SURGERY

BREAST CONSERVING SURGERY

Breast conserving surgery may also be called a complete local excision, lumpectomy, partial mastectomy or wide local excision.

What does breast conserving surgery involve

Breast conserving surgery involves removing the breast cancer and a small amount of healthy tissue around it (called the surgical margin). This often referred to as wide local excision or lumpectomy. Some women also have one or more lymph nodes removed from the armpit.

Breast conserving surgery is an option if the breast cancer is small enough compared to the size of the breast to allow removal of the cancer and some healthy tissue around it and still give an acceptable appearance.

Radiotherapy to the breast is usually recommended after breast conserving surgery.

MASTECTOMY – (1) TOTAL, (2) SKIN SPARING (3) NIPPLE SPARING

Please see below for further information:

(1) TOTAL OR SIMPLE MASTECTOMY

This procedure involves the surgeon removing the entire breast, including the nipple, areola, and skin. Some underarm lymph nodes may or may not be removed depending on the situation.

(2) SKIN SPARING MASTECTOMY

During skin-sparing mastectomy, the surgeon removes only the skin of the nipple, areola, and the original biopsy scar. Then the surgeon removes the breast tissue through the small opening that is created. The remaining pouch of skin provides the best shape and form to accommodate an implant or a reconstruction using your own tissue.

Many women prefer skin-sparing mastectomy because it offers the advantage of less scar tissue and a reconstructed breast that seems more natural. But it may not be suitable for larger tumors or those that are close to the surface of the skin.

(3) NIPPLE SPARING MASTECTOMY

Nipple-sparing mastectomy is a variation of the skin-sparing mastectomy. In this procedure, the breast tissue is removed, but the breast skin and nipple are left in place. This can be followed by a breast reconstruction.

The surgeon may remove the breast tissue beneath the nipple (and areola) during the procedure to check for cancer cells.

BREAST SURGEON DARWIN

Dr Sinnathamby – MBBS, MS, FRACS.
General & Breast Surgeon.

“If you have any questions about any of these procedures, please contact my rooms.

I pride myself on ensuring my patients and their loved ones fully understand your diagnosis and treatment options.”

LYMPH NODE SURGERY

For Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Axillary Lymph Node Dissection please scroll down the page.

To learn more about lymph nodes see below:

SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY

In a sentinel lymph node biopsy, one or more of the axillary lymph nodes are removed from the armpit (axilla) to see if there is any evidence that the cancer has spread from the breast to the lymph nodes and therefore, potentially, to other parts of the body.

Usually, if there is no cancer in these sentinel nodes it means the remaining axillary lymph nodes are not likely to contain cancer cells.

AXILLARY LYMPH NODE DISSECTION

During an axillary lymph node dissection, most lymph nodes under the arm are removed and examined for signs of cancer. Because more lymph nodes are looked at, the doctor may have more evidence of whether the cancer has spread.

BREAST SURGEON DARWIN

Dr Sinnathamby – MBBS, MS, FRACS.
General & Breast Surgeon.

“If you have any questions about any of these procedures, please contact my rooms.

I pride myself on ensuring my patients and their loved ones fully understand your diagnosis and treatment options.”

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION – ONOCOPLASTIC SURGERY

Oncoplastic surgery is an approach for breast cancer patients that improves cosmetic outcomes. Oncoplastic surgery combines the latest plastic surgery techniques with breast surgical oncology (the study and treatment of tumours).

When a large lumpectomy (surgery to remove a breast cancer tumour) is required that will leave the breast distorted, the remaining tissue is sculpted to realign the nipple and areola and restore a natural appearance to the breast shape. The opposite breast will also be modified to create symmetry.

IMPLANT RECONSTRUCTION

Using a breast implant is one option for reconstructing the shape of your breast after surgery to remove the cancer. Several types of implants can be used. This type of breast reconstruction can be done at the same time as the cancer surgery. Or it can be started when you have your cancer surgery and then completed later.

You should understand the benefits and risks of implants for breast reconstruction and discuss them with Dr Sinnathamby.

BREAST SURGEON DARWIN

Dr Sinnathamby – MBBS, MS, FRACS.
General & Breast Surgeon.

“If you have any questions about any of these procedures, please contact my rooms.

I pride myself on ensuring my patients and their loved ones fully understand your diagnosis and treatment options.”

BREAST REDUCTION FOR SYMMETRY

Breast asymmetry correction surgery is a procedure that improves the differences between the breast sizes if these are noticeable. Minor differences between your breasts is normal, but if these differences are larger than the size, shape or position of one or both of the breasts can be changed to make the breasts more equal.

Depending on the amount of difference between your breasts and your individual breast characteristics there are a few options – these include:

• Making the smaller breast bigger (breast augmentation)
• Making the larger breast smaller (breast reduction)
• Making both breasts bigger or smaller
• Lifting a drooping breast into a more normal position (breast lift).

PREVENTIVE MASTECTOMY BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

Preventative (prophylactic) mastectomy is surgical removal of the breasts in women who do not have breast cancer.

You may consider having a preventative mastectomy if you have a strong family history of breast cancer and/or if genetic testing suggests a strong likelihood that you may be diagnosed with breast cancer in future.

LUMPECTOMY FOR BENIGN BREAST CONDITIONS

In this instance a lumpectomy is surgical procedure to remove abnormal tissue from your breast. This may require removal of a margin of normal tissue (called the surgical margin) around the lump is taken to help ensure that all the abnormal tissue is removed..

Lumpectomy is also called breast-conserving surgery or wide local excision because — unlike a mastectomy — only a portion of the breast is removed. Doctors may also refer to lumpectomy as an excisional biopsy.

MICRODOCHECTOMY (CENTRAL DUCT EXCISION)

The ducts that take milk produced by the milk-producing lobules in the breast are called ‘lactiferous ducts’.

Sometimes there can be discharge from the nipple, which may be coloured, clear or bloodstained. Although most nipple discharge is benign, it can be a symptom of cancer and should be investigated.

Breast Duct Surgery, or Microdochectomy, is the surgical removal of a lactiferous duct. The benefits of removing only one duct is that the breast can still produce milk for breastfeeding.

In some cases, especially where multiple ducts are involved or it is not possible to identify the one discharging duct, total duct excision may be necessary.

SUBCUTANEOUS MASTECTOMY FOR GYNAECOMASTIA IN MALES

Gynaecomastia is a common disorder of the male breast where there is a benign glandular enlargement of that breast.

The procedure involves removing fat or glandular tissue from the breasts, and in extreme cases removes excess skin, resulting in a chest that is flatter, firmer, and better contoured.

BREAST SURGEON DARWIN

Dr Sinnathamby – MBBS, MS, FRACS.
General & Breast Surgeon.

“If you have any questions about any of these procedures, please contact my rooms.

I pride myself on ensuring my patients and their loved ones fully understand your diagnosis and treatment options.”

BREAST SURGEON DARWIN

Dr Sinnathamby is a highly experienced breast surgeon who consults with patients from all over Darwin including Tiwi, Muirhead, Lyons, Nakara, Wanguri, Casuarina, Leanyer, Alawa, Wagaman, Wulagi, Rapid Creek, Nightcliff, Millner, Coconut Grove, Jingili, Moil, Anula, Malak, Karama, Holmes, Bagot, Ludmilla, Fannie Bay, The Narrows, Parap, Winnellie, Coonawarra, Hidden Valley, Yarrawonga, Palmerston City, Grey, Gunn, Johnston, Bakewell, Moulden, Archer, and Rosenbery.